Before you replace a slow laptop, a few simple steps can give it a real new lease of life — often for free. Here's how to speed up an old laptop.
Quick free fixes
- Restart and update: install pending system and driver updates, then reboot.
- Clear out startup apps: stop programs launching at boot — a big speed win.
- Uninstall what you don't use and empty the recycle bin.
- Free up disk space: a nearly full drive runs slowly — clear downloads and temporary files.
- Run a malware scan to rule out nasties hogging resources.
Cheap upgrades that transform it
- Add an SSD: swapping an old hard drive for an SSD is the single biggest speed boost — it can feel like a new machine.
- Add more RAM: if you run lots at once, extra memory helps it multitask.
When it's time to replace
If it's very old, won't take current updates, or upgrades would cost more than it's worth, a new machine will save you hassle. Browse laptops.
Final thoughts
Tidy the startup, free up space and consider an SSD — most old laptops have a few good years left in them. If not, browse laptops and computing online, or ask in any of our 60+ stores.
